TEAC Hi-Fidelity Table Radio with iPod Dock and Digital AM/FM Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received the iHome iH5 for Christmas, but returned it because one of the speakers buzzed.I didn't replace it because of reports of this problem recurring.I decided I didn't need an FM/AM Radio w/ iPod dock after all.Until I ran across the TEAC GR-10i at Costco.I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give it a tray after receiving a coupon.

At first, I was worried about its larger size, but I find that its size probably contributets to its bigger sound - far superior to the iHome; probably on par with speakers that cost 2 to 3 times as much.I just can't believe this unit produces such rich (with deep bass) sound.The AM and FM reception is also very good - I can receive all my favorites quite clearly, where usually I have to settle for half of them (with static!).And it comes with a seemingly sturdy remote (weighs twice as much as you'd expect, and the material feel strong).

My only complaints are its size, the gray color, and lack of battery backup (power failures >30 sec resets everything, according to the manual).Its performance ranks a 5; its cosmetics and lack of a few features ranks a 4.Other problems for other folks are the lack of a full complement of alarm clock features (such as snooze!) and docking plates for the newest iPods (video and nano).

Bottom line is if you want great AM/FM reception and the ability to listen your iPod through the dedicated port (or any other source via its aux input located in the front), then this is hands-down the winner (certainly over the iHome).

Click Here to see more reviews about: TEAC Hi-Fidelity Table Radio with iPod Dock and Digital AM/FM Tuner

Product Description:
With its built-in docking station and clean, contemporary design, the Teac GR-10i clock radio is the perfect complement for your Apple iPod digital music player. Not only does the GR-10i let you listen to your iPod music free from cumbersome headphones, it also lets you fall asleep or wake to music you've loaded into your iPod. You can also wake or sleep to FM/AM radio or wake to a traditional buzzer.

Want to read more honest consumer review about TEAC Hi-Fidelity Table Radio with iPod Dock and Digital AM/FM Tuner now ?

Cambridge SoundWorks 730 Radio (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I considered the Bose, Tivoli, Boston Acoustics radios featured in a recent Consumer Reports feature and I decided on the Cambridge for several reasons.The Cambridge appeared to have the best features and was modestly priced.After enjoying the Cambridge for a week, these are the things I like about the radio:1) Powerful and clean sound with a great low end (you won't need any more bass for a small office); 2) The display is clear and easy to read; 3) The radio is small and takes up very little desk space and the remote is also tiny and has many features;4) Set up took ten minutes, just open the box, read the instructions, plug in and play; 5) Easy to use with great features.The presets for radio stations are very convenient and the controls are intuiative.
Things that could be improved: 1) Radio reception.I work in a twelve story building and the radio reception is bad.I have a ten dollar Sony clock radio that brings in a particular FM station better than the Cambridge.The AM reception is about the same as the Sony (I was hoping for better). I hooked up the FM and AM antennae that came with the Cambridge and the results were the same.It could very well be that the building I work in makes it difficult to get any FM or AM stations.To be fair, I have not tried the Cambridge radio reception anywhere else other than at work.I really wanted to avoid having to spend an additional [amount] on an external antennae but it looks like I have to if I want to listen to certain stations.These are all local stations that come in perfectly in my van.2) The highs (sound) are ok, but perhaps they could be improved for a little more clarity.The bass is great and maybe this takes away a little from the highs being able to sparkle as they should. (This is with the tone controls at neutral with loudness off).
I hooked up my eleven year old Sony portable CD player and the sound is great.
I am a regular person who enjoys listening to music and some sporting events.This radio is great for my needs as it can crank out the sound if needed, takes up very little space, is reasonably priced, has a remote, and looks sturdy and well designed.Cambridge is coming out with a built in CD player for more money, but I would recommend buying this model, using a decent portable CD player, and save your money to buy an external antennae if you work in a building like mine).I hope this helps!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cambridge SoundWorks 730 Radio (Black)

Product Description:
If you're looking for a table radio that can compete with a full-component system in sound and performance, look no further than Cambridge SoundWorks 730 Radio. Thanks to a built-in subwoofer and ingenious amplification engineering, the SoundWorks 730 will put any other table radio under the table in head-to-head competition. Priced much less than its closest table-top competitors, the SoundWorks 730 is in a class of its own, delivering uncompromised performance and unequalled value.
The Built-in Subwoofer: The Heart of the System
It's amazing what a difference a subwoofer can make. When you turn on your SoundWorks 730, your first reaction will be to look under the table for hidden subwoofer. There's no mistaking the pulse created by a real subwoofer. Cambridge engineers came up with an ingenious way to position the subwoofer and amplify the bass to produce deep, distortion-free sound at any volume. In combination with its wide-dispersion speakers, the SoundWorks 730 delivers sound that's hard to believe comes from such a small box. It's not just better than most tabletop radios, but actually better than many component stereo systems. With separate bass and treble controls, and an auxiliary input for a CD or MP3 player, the SoundWorks 730 gives you everything you need to fill your room with awesome sound.
A Lot of Features to Love
. But there's a lot more to this baby to love than just the sound. A large, 32-character display means that you'll no longer have to squint to see what you're listening to. From clear across the room, you'll be able to read the song your radio is playing (assuming your FM station supports Radio Data Service) in your choice of five languages, scrolling across the display. An automatic dimmer reduces display brightness in dark rooms while maintaining good legibility under bright conditions. The SoundWorks 730 also has 16 presets for two bands of FM tuning and 8 presets for AM reception, front inputs for your CD or MP3 player, and a headphone jack. Rear inputs and outputs are included for recording, mixing and outside signal reception. A full-featured remote control offers the ultimate in convenience, while the alarm clock function offers variable snooze settings and two alarms that wake to tone or music.
What's in the Box
AM/FM stereo radio with attached 95-inch AC cord, AM loop antenna, FM wire antenna, remote control, CR2025 battery, user's manual, and online registration card.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Cambridge SoundWorks 730 Radio (Black) now ?

Sony ICF-M1000 Table Top Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This radio from Sony is placed to compete with similar products from Tivoli (Henry Kloss Model One) and Boston Acoustics (Receptor Radio). All of these products are single speaker (mono) AM/FM radios that contain no CD or cassette players and have no remote control. If that is not what you are looking for in a radio, this product is not for you; however, if you are looking for a simple tabletop radio, continue on.

Sony hoped to cash in on the popularity of simple table radios, however their offering falls short of its competitors. The radio is gloss black with a black fabric front that hides the speaker. It is significantly larger than the other radios in this class, about double the size of either the Kloss or the Receptor. Despite the size of the cabinet, the speaker is roughly the same size as those found on the other radios. The LCD display is small and somewhat hard to read from certain angles (there is an acrylic prism sitting on top of the LCD that reflects the image forward and upward). There are three knobs on the front that control tuning, volume and tone. The radio is built well, but I think the black fabric makes it seem a bit cheap. Removing the fabric cover exposes the cheap wood interior and lowers the aesthetics even further.

By itself this radio has a decent sound, and the tone control allows for tweaking of the sound quality. However when I compare the sound quality to that of the Kloss and Receptor, this product again falls short. This radio lacked the bass response of its competitors, despite its much larger size. Midranges were decent, comparable to the others (talk radio sounds almost the same among the three radios). Trebles were decent, although slightly muddled unless the tone control was set to high. On the plus side, the tuning was accurate and the reception clear, probably the best of the three, although all are very good.

The Sony radio has line-out/line-in 1/8" jacks in the rear for connecting to an mp3 or CD player (as does the Kloss, but not the receptor). There are no alarm-clock functions on this radio, which further limits its usefulness.

In conclusion, this would be a very decent radio if it were fifty dollars. However, Sony has set the price so that it competes with radios that are far superior to it. If you are to spend this kind of money on a table radio, I suggest you look elsewhere (I recommend the Receptor Radio).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICF-M1000 Table Top Radio

Product Description:
Sony - Stylish Design - Radio

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sony ICF-M1000 Table Top Radio now ?

Crosley Radio Cr612-Bk Corsair Alarm Clock/Radio (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I loved the picture of this item...I had just the place to put it in my home where it would look great.It does look great.It just hardly works.The whole thing only weighs a pound or two...this should have clued me in right away when unpacking it.The switches have an imprecise and awful feel and seemvery delicate.The sound quality is very poor (Remember those less than $5 transistor radios?) and the reception is worse.Even the strongest stations in my area only come in with a great deal of fuzzy sound and you can always hear the radio stations near them in the back ground.I haven't bought anything electronic that was this bad in years.Don't be fooled by the good looks...in this case beauty really is only skin deep.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Crosley Radio Cr612-Bk Corsair Alarm Clock/Radio (Black)

Product Description:
Crosley Radio Cr612-Bk Corsair Alarm Clock/Radio (Black)

Want to read more honest consumer review about Crosley Radio Cr612-Bk Corsair Alarm Clock/Radio (Black) now ?

Boston Acoustics HDUOMDNT Horizon Duo Speaker System (Midnight) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I already own two Boston Acoustic Horizon Solos, which I bought on Amazon for about $85. One is in the bedroom and the other is in the workout room. My friend urged me to get the two-speaker Duo, so I finally capitulated and use it in the kitchen. My review will be based on my comparison between the $85 Solo and the $115 Duo.

Speaker Sound: The Duo wins. While I love the Solo's full high-fidelity sound, the Duo speakers really fill the kitchen with ease.

AM Reception: I'd have to give a slight nod to the Duo. In the kitchen I had to rotate the Solo to fine-tune 570AM. I don't have to touch the Duo. This is fortunate because the size and shape of it make it impractical for rotating the radio to maximize AM reception from its internal ferrite antenna.

FM Reception: The Solo wins. Probably they get equal FM, but the stereo speakers on the Duo highlight background static more easily. This is only a problem once in a while when I listen to 89.3 KPCC. I'd still give the Duo an A minus grade on FM.

Remote: The Duo has one and the Solo does not.

Ease of use: The remote on the Duo allows you to bypass the toggle mode switch on the radio. Some people don't like changing the mode by hand. But on the Solo you toggle your presets, whether they're AM or FM, in the same preset mode, so you don't really miss the remote.

Conclusion: These are both great radios for their price point. For a bedside radio, I'd go with the Solo because it takes up less space and you can rotate it easier to optimize AM reception. The Solo is loud enough for big rooms as well and its speaker isn't as prone to static as much as the Duo's.So on balance I think most people will be better served getting the $85 Solo, which I give an A grade. The $115 Duo gets an A minus because of occasional FM static on weak stations.

UPDATE: JULY 14, 2009:

I own two Duos, one bought in September of 2008 and one bought in March of 2009. Both had to be returned because the AM stopped working. This may be due to the intense heat generated by these radios even when the radios are turned off. The replacement radios (I had to pay $20 for shipping) generate the same heat and I fear their AM will fizzle out as well. This is a real shame. While this is the best sounding radio I've ever owned, its heat and AM problem compels me to tell consumers to stay away from the Duo.

In contrast, the smaller version, the BA Horizon Solo is great. I own two and in the last year and a half I've had no problems. Get the cheaper Solo. Great mono speaker sound and better reliability than the Duo.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Boston Acoustics HDUOMDNT Horizon Duo Speaker System (Midnight)

Product Description:
Horizon duo midnight speaker system with dual high-performance 3.5-Inch full-range speakers.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Boston Acoustics HDUOMDNT Horizon Duo Speaker System (Midnight) now ?

Boston Acoustics HSOLOMDNT Horizon Solo AM/FM Radio With Auxiliary Input (Midnight) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had my Horizon Solo for a week now and can say that it's a huge leap better than its older brother the Recepter and the Tivoli Songbook and the Sangean WR-2, which I sold and replaced with my Horizon Solo.

Here is where the Horizon Solo shines:

1. Its AM/FM tuner is on steroids. Most of the time I don't even have to elevate the FM wire antenna to get hard-to-get Los Angeles stations such as 89.3, 88.9, and 103.1. The FM blows away the more expensive Tivoli Songbook and Sangean WR-2.
2. The AM tuner sounds like stereo with no background noise. This is truly amazing. The AM is far better than my very good Sangean WR-2.

3. The speakers are bigger and fuller than the already good-sounding Recepter and bear in mind the Horizon Solo is fifty dollars less.

4. The interface is easy to use. Like the Recepter, you use a rotary dial to tune up or down while scrolling through the 20 presets.

5. The radio is relatively small and leaves a small footprint on your bedside table.

6. Unlike the more expensive Recepter, the Horizon Solo has a headphone jack in the front.

7. The AC cord is two-prong and small in size, not one of those big fat wall-warts that take up half your available outlets.

8. Holding the bezel dial, you can't "twist" the radio into the horizontal or vertical position.

9. Marketed as a "custom" radio, the front grill can be removed and replaced with loud vibrant colors though truth be told I'm happy the with the dark "midnight" color.

Yes, I do notice a couple of bugs in my new model. Twice after turning off the radio, the radio was still on so I had to turn it off a second time. Also the time display is five minutes slow while listening to the radio and then when you turn the radio off the time is accurate again. I don't know if this is a bug particular to my radio or a general problem.

Bottom-line: As a radio enthusiast, I own over 50 radios and I will go out on a limb and say this is the best AM/FM clock radio I have ever purchased. In a market where clock radios usually have substandard reception or where the better radios cost $150-200, the Horizon Solo is the new champion on the block.

Update: Bought another Horizon Solo for my work office, an environment hampered by electronic interference and the Horizon Solo is doing very well, picking up Los Angeles stations 88.1, 103.1, 89.9 91.5 and other FM stations with outstanding clarity. My officemates are so impressed, they want to get one also.

Another Update: After 3 months, my second Solo got frozen on the 17 increment of volume control. After much experimentation, I discovered that the only way to "unfreeze" the volume is to unplug the unit for several minutes and then plug it in again. I hope I don't have to do this again or at least not often.

Nine months later it continues to be my favorite radio. The volume control can also be de-activitated by holding lowering volume to ZERO; then you hold the on button until the radio beeps; then you increase the volume to full blast or whatever limit you want. Then you turn off radio and turn on again. Boston Acoustics sent me these instructions after I contacted them. Since I've done this, the problem is gone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Boston Acoustics HSOLOMDNT Horizon Solo AM/FM Radio With Auxiliary Input (Midnight)

Product Description:
Horizon solo midnight AM/FM radio with auxiliary input.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Boston Acoustics HSOLOMDNT Horizon Solo AM/FM Radio With Auxiliary Input (Midnight) now ?